Electrode splicing device



Jan. 4, 1949. R. R. JONES ELECTRODE SPLICING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2'7, 1946 I N V EN TOR. RoberZ'R. Jon as B gm M ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1949. R JONES 2,458,272

.ELECTRODE SPLICING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @l l) [e5 (=2: 27 r l i I INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 4, 1949 ELECTRODE SPLICIN G DEVICE Robert R. Jones, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Ohio 'Ferro Alloys Corporation, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 27, 1946, Serial No. 686,706

11 Claims.

The invention relates to means for splicing electrodes in electric furnaces, and more particularly .to a device of this character by means of which the splicing operation may beaccomp'lished .quicklyand easily, and without danger to the workman.

These electrodes are formed of graphite or carbon sections several feet long and usually from fourteen to forty inches in diameter, and are quite heavy, whereby they are diiiicult'to handle, particularly since the splicing operation is usually carried out while the furnace is hot and the stumps of the electrodes in the furnace are hot, so that it is inconvenient as well as dangerous for the workman to splice new sections of 'elec-- trodes thereto.

.Each electrode section is provided at its upper .and lower ends with screw threaded sockets for receiving threaded graphite plugs by means of which the sections of electrode are spliced together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of the character referred to for supporting an electrode section in position above the stump of an electrode in the furnace to antomatically splice said electrode sections together.

Another object is to provide power driven means for .rotating said electrode section so as to screw the same upon the threaded plug in the old electrode.

.A further object is to provide a device of this character having a threaded plug for engagement with the threaded socket at the upper end of an electrode section for supporting said electrode section in position for performing the splicing operation.

.A still further object is to provide a splicing device of the character referred to in which a feed screw .and power driven means are provided for rotating the screw plug and the electrode section carried thereby so as to splice the electrode section upon the old electrode in the furnace, without periodically operating the crane to lower the electrode section as it is screwed onto the threaded plug of the old electrode.

.It is another object of the invention to provide such a device including an air motor or the like having a driving shaft, a stationary, tubular feed screw surrounding said shaft, a nut threaded upon the feed screw, and a hollow, screw plug fixed to the nut and operatively connected to the driving shaft.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawings, and the following description, 'orwhich may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing and operating "the improved electrode splicing device in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a general View, partly in section, showing the manner in which an electrode section is supported by the improved electrode splicing device, in position for splicing the same upon the stump of an electrode in the furnace;

Fig. 2 a vertical, sectional view of the electrode splicing device;

Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line 3--3, Fig. 2. and

Fig. 4 a transverse section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings in which the improved electrode splicing device is shown in use for splicing a new electrode section upon the old stump of an electrode in the furnace, the clamping means for holding the electrode in the furnace is shown conventionally at Hi having a portion of a used electrode section therein as indicated at H.

The usual graphite or carbon screw plug I2 is shown threaded into the screw threaded socket IS in the top of the electrode section H. A new electrode section is indicated at Ha having the screw threaded socket B41 in its upper end and a similar socket M at its lower end for engagement with the threaded graphite plug I2 to connect the sections together in usual and ordinary manner.

The electrode splicing device to which the invention pertains includes the base plate [5 which maybe of generally elliptical or oblong shape, the motor [6, which is conventionally illustrated as an air motor, being mounted upon the top thereof and provided with the depending, rotating shaft 11 located through the central opening 1.8 of suitable diameter, in the base plate.

The device may be suspended from a crane or the like by means of a yoke comprising the rods l9 slidably located through apertures 28 in opposite end portions of the base plate and having shoulders at their lower ends formed as by the washers 2| and nuts 22, coil springs 23 being located around the depending portions of the rods l9 and interposed between said shoulders and the under side of the base plate.

The upper ends of the rods 19 are rigidly connected to a cross bar '24 of structural form as by the washers 2'5 and nuts 26 drawing the collars 2! of4the rods against the under side of the cross bar 2 Similar collars 28 may also be provided upon the rods for contact with the upper surface of the base plate IS. A loop or eye 29 is centrally connected to the cross bar 23 for receiving the hook of a crane or the like for supporting the device.

The tubular feed screw 30 surrounds the drive shaft ll of the motor, in spaced relation thereto, as shown in Fig. 2, and is rigidly connected to the base plate as by the screws 3! which are countersunk in the upper surface of the base plate as indicated at 32. The pitch of the thread upon the feed screw is the same as the thread upon the graphite or carbon screw plug 12 in the electrode.

The feed screw nut 33 is threaded upon the feed screw 35 and provided with the peripheralfiange 34 which may be of substantially the same diameter as the upper end of the threaded plug 35 which is connected thereto and seated in the annular recess 36 thereof as by the screws 31.

This threaded plug 35 is tubular and surrounds the feed screw 30 in spaced relation thereto as shown in Fig. 2, the lower portion of this plug being externally threaded as indicated at 38 so as to be received within the threaded socket i3a at the upper end of the electrode Ila. The pitch of the threads 38 is the same as the thread upon the feed screw 30.

The interior of the threaded plug 35 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced, longitudinal grooves 39 in which are slidably received the radial lugs 40 upon the driving spider M which is provided with the central portion 42 having a squared opening 43 receiving the squared lower end 44 of the drive shaft il The threaded stud 45 is formed upon the lower end of the driving shaft to receive the threaded safety Washer 46 which is received in the recess M in the under side of the driving spider 4| to retain the driving spider upon the shaft.

A dust plate 48 may be attached to the lower end of the threaded plug 35, being received in the recess 4% thereof and connected as by screws 58 so as to close the threaded plug and prevent dust or dirt from entering the interior thereof. A pair of diametrically opposed arms 5| may be rigidly formed upon the threaded plug 35 for a purpose to be later explained.

When an electrode, as indicated at H in Fig. 1, is burned down to the point where it is necessary to splice a new electrode section thereto, the improved electrode splicing device is suspended by a crane or the like above the new electrode section Ha. with the threaded plug 35 positioned H above the threaded socket I3a in the upper end of the electrode section I la.

The motor [6 is then operated rotating the drive shaft ll thereof and through the driving spider 4|, the threaded plug 35 and feed screw nut 33 are rotated, the nut 33 riding down upon the feed screw and moving the threaded plug 35 downward as it is rotated, the longitudinal grooves 39 in the threaded plug engaged by the lugs H] of the spider permitting the plug to move longitudinally relative to the spider. The threaded plug 35 is thus screwed into the upper threaded socket l3a in the electrode section Ila as shown in Fig. l.

The splicing device with the electrode section Ila thus suspended therefrom is then moved by the crane to a position above the old electrode I! in the furnace the motor l6 having been 010- erated in reverse direction to move the nut 33 back to the upper end of the feed screw 30 to the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 1 and with the new electrode section Ha suspended just above the old electrode I! in the furnace the motor I6 is again operated to rotate the screw plug 35 and the electrode section Ha carried thereby in a direction to screw the lower threaded socket 14 of said electrode section onto the threaded graphite stud IE to splice the two electrode sections together.

During this operation the base plate i 8 must be held against rotation by means of chains or cables connected to the openings 52 in the base plate and snubbed around any stationary portion of the furnace.

When the electrode sections have been spliced together, the splicing device may then be disconnected from the electrode section Ha. This is accomplished by reversing the motor I6 so as to withdraw the threaded plug 35 from the threaded socket [3a in the upper end of the electrode section. g

A sledge hammer or the like may be used to start the reverse movement of the threaded plug by striking one or the other of the arms 5! thereof to loosen the threaded stud from the electrode so that it may be removed therefrom by reverse movement of the motor.

I claim:

1. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprisinga reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a feed nut thread ed upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surround ing the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft to said plug throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw.

2. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a feed nut threaded upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surrounding the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and driving means upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw.

3. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising areversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a feed nut threaded upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surrounding the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and a driving spider upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw. 7

4. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a tubular plug internally threaded upon the feed screw and externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section and means operatively connecting the drive shaft to said plug throughout the entire travel of the plug upon the feed screw.

5. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a tubular plug internally threaded upon the feed screw and externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and driving means upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the plug upon the feed screw.

6. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a tubular plug internally threaded upon the feed screw and externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and a driving spider upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the plug upon the feed screw.

7. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a reversing motor, a drive shaft upon the motor, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed relative to the motor, a feed nut threaded upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surrounding the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft to said plug throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw and rigid radial arms upon said tubular plug.

8. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a base plate, a reversing motor mounted upon the base plate, a drive shaft upon the motor located downward through the base plate, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed at its upper end to the base plate, a tubular plug internally threaded upon the feed screw and externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft to said plug throughout the entire travel of the plug upon the feed screw.

9. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a base plate, a yoke connected to the base plate for suspending the splicing device above an electrode section,

a reversing motor mounted upon the base plate, a drive shaft upon the motor located downward through the base plate, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed at its upper end to the base plate, a tubular plug internally threaded upon the feed screw and externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft to said plug throughout the entire travel of the plug upon the feed screw.

10. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a base plate, a reversing motor mounted upon the base plate, a drive shaft upon the motor located downward through the base plate, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed at its upper end to the base plate, a feed nut threaded upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surrounding the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and a driving spider upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw.

11. An electrode splicing device for splicing electrode sections having threaded sockets in their ends, said splicing device comprising a base plate, a reversing motor mounted upon the base plate, a drive shaft upon the motor located downward through the base plate, a tubular feed screw surrounding the drive shaft and fixed at its upper end to the base plate, a feed nut threaded upon the feed screw, a tubular plug surrounding the feed screw and fixed to the feed nut, said plug being externally threaded to engage a threaded socket of an electrode section, said plug having longitudinal grooves therein and a driving spider upon the drive shaft engaging said longitudinal grooves throughout the entire travel of the feed nut upon the feed screw and means for holding said base plate against rotation.

ROBERT R. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 824,153 Seward June 26, 1906 846,521 Stevens Mar. 12, 1907 898,691 Seward et al Sept. 15, 1908 1,049,624 Viertel Jan. '7, 1913 1,850,515 Peltz Mar. 22, 1932 2,035,161 Herzmark Mar. 24, 1936 2,061,090 Rhoads Nov. 17, 1936 2,157,498 Reinecke et a1 May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 402,867 Germany Sept. 22, 1924 529,837 Germany July 17, 1931 

